For immediate release: Feb. 13, 2003

EDMONTON – Alberta Children’s Services should temporarily shut down its new adoption Web site while the Privacy Commissioner reviews concerns it contains information that should be confidential, says the president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.

"I commend the minister and the department for this laudable initiative to use the Internet to find homes for children who need them," said AUPE President Dan MacLennan. "But fixes need to be put in place.

"The concept is a sound one, but it appears far too much private information about these children has been included on the site," said MacLennan, whose union represents children’s services workers employed by the Alberta government.

"That can be easily remedied," he said.

Information and Privacy Commissioner Frank Work began an investigation after concerns were raised about the amount and type of information available on the Web site, which requires no password to view. Alberta Children’s Services, meanwhile, told reporters it would not shut down the site.

Maureen Braun, the chair of AUPE Local 006, which represents government children’s services employees, said workers believe the site contains too much medical and personal information about the children pictured in it.
"This is a good tool, but a badly implemented tool," Braun said. "All of a sudden, neighbours and friends who recognize the photographs – not to mention people all over the world – know about these children’s behavioural and medical problems."

"Prospective adoptive parents need this information," MacLennan said. "Other people don’t need to know. The site should be temporarily suspended until the kind of personal information included is reviewed."

For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-910-8392 (cellular phone)
Maureen Braun, Chair, Local 006, AUPE, 780-906-8542 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943